People
Kent S. Nevins

Kent S. Nevins

he/him/his

Chair of the Management Committee

Kent Nevins is Chair of the firm’s Management Committee.

Drawing on his extensive experience in private practice and as former general counsel for a capital markets firm, Kent provides business-oriented, outcome-focused legal advice to clients involved in complex, large-scale commercial real estate projects across the country. Over the course of his career, he has advised developers, owners and funders on numerous projects ranging from retail, warehouse and distribution properties and facilities, to student housing, fitness centers and hotels, with an aggregate value exceeding $3 billion.

Among his more high-profile New York engagements, he represented general and limited partners in the complicated assemblage of properties at 86th Street and Lexington Avenue, the creation of a condo structure for a major property on 50th Street, and a joint venture to acquire a fee interest in the Lipstick Building on Third Avenue. Kent also has represented clients on numerous projects in Connecticut, including the negotiation and closing of major acquisitions, master leases and subleases.

Part corporate lawyer, part real estate attorney, Kent knows firsthand the practical business and legal issues facing his clients. He advises individuals and entities at every step, including establishing sophisticated, multi-tier corporate, private equity and hedge fund structures, negotiating acquisition and financing terms, acquiring air and other rights, and managing national leasing portfolios. His recent engagements also include joint ventures, sales, exchanges, syndications, construction financing, commercial mortgage-backed securities and capital markets transactions.

Together with his team, Kent provides effective guidance on a deal’s most thorny issues, including federal and state tax incentives and programs and environmental compliance. He also represents lenders and debtors in bankruptcies, workouts, restructurings and other matters involving distressed properties. In addition to the engagements noted above, Kent has represented clients on tax-exempt and government-assisted projects as well as condominium, hospitality, retail, multifamily residential, office, industrial, golf course, cell-tower and mobile-home-park projects.

Kent has been consistently recognized for his excellence in the area of Real Estate by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2023, the nation’s preeminent guide to law firms and individual attorneys. He was named a “Star Individual” this year, a special ranking awarded to lawyers who have received exceptional recommendations in their field.

Credentials

Education

Pace University, J.D., 1985, magna cum laude
Pace University Lubin School of Business, B.B.A., 1982, summa cum laude

Bar Admissions

Connecticut
New Jersey
New York

Distinctions

AV Preeminent® Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®: Real Estate Law (2013-2025)
Listed in Chambers USA, Real Estate (2010-2024), Band 1 (2021-2022), Star Individual (2023-2024)
Listed as a Connecticut Super Lawyer®: Real Estate (2013-2024)
Named "Lawyer of the Year" (2022): Best Lawyers® Stamford Region Real Estate Law
American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL): Fellow

Professional Affiliations

Wilbur F. Breslin Center for Real Estate Studies at Hofstra University: Advisory Board
International Council of Shopping Centers: Member

Experience

Commercial real estate

$450 Million Joint Venture to Acquire Fee Interest in the "Lipstick Building"

Represent affiliates of Ceruzzi Holdings and Shanghai Municipal Investment in a joint venture to acquire fee interest in 885 Third Avenue (the “Lipstick Building”). The transaction was a $450 million +- complex debt and equity structure and involved advice relating to unique ground lease and fee issues as well as multi-tier entity ownership structure.

General

Structuring and Negotiation of Master Lease for the Development of University Housing in Downtown Stamford, CT

Represented a university in connection with the complicated structuring and negotiation of a master lease, condominium and related documents for the development of dormitories in downtown Stamford, Connecticut.

$205M Joint Venture for Co-Development of New York City Mixed-Used Project

Successfully represented Ceruzzi Properties in a joint-venture agreement for the co-development of a 76-story mixed-use project in midtown Manhattan. Valued at $205 million, this was the second largest New York City real estate transaction recorded for the second week of July 2019. Representation included a partnership restructuring and recapitalization.

Acquisition of 238 Acres Inclusive of Equestrian Trails, Dock Access to the CT River and Six Distinct Properties in Lyme, CT

Represented private client in the acquisition of 238 acres comprising six distinct properties located in Lyme, Connecticut. The property contained various improvements including three houses, residential amenities such as tennis courts, stables, private roads, and tidal wetlands, marshes, pastures, fields, equestrian trails and walking trails. A significant portion of the property makes up the equestrian trails of the Lyme Trail Association, used by several hundred people each year for horseback and therapeutic riding, hiking and equestrian events. Three ponds, each of which include regulated dams, and a FAA-approved water-based landing strip are located at the property along with related docks, a launch ramp and other access points to the Connecticut River.

The extraordinarily complicated title to this property provided for a multitude of title issues, including private roads over which many parties have rights and obligations through various agreements, conservation restrictions, building and use restrictions, various dock rights for access to the Connecticut River, and other title rights, duties and obligations that could fill a treatise. As part of the work related to the dams, our team uncovered compliance issues with respect to the dams and set in place corrective measures, including the negotiation of an easement with an adjacent property owner for the construction of improvements related to a dam and flowage rights. Additional corrective measures had to be taken with respect to the dams, the docks and ramp involving the State of Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local municipal authorities. Various related environmental issues were addressed along with issues related to the water-based landing strip in order to bring the property back into compliance, resulting in a successful acquisition by our private client.

Acquisition and Development of Jamaica, New York Hilton Hotel

Represent affiliates of Able Properties in connection with acquisition and development of well-reported development of Jamaica, New York development of Hilton Hotel directly across the street from multi-billion dollar transportation hub. Our representation includes advice relating to acquisition from Greater Jamaica Redevelopment and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and included complex land use, administrative law, title and related issues.

October 13, 2020

CT Lawyers Recognized as 2020 Super Lawyers

June 25, 2020